Staff holder



June 11, 1935.

E. GAUS STAFF HOLDER Filed Spt. 20, 1934 INVENTDR BE- SALTS BY ATTORNEY Patented June 11,1935

UNITED STATES STAFF HOLDER George E. Gaus, Washington, D. 0., dedicated to the free use of the Public Application September 20, 1934, Serial No. 744,7 55 1 Claim. (01. 248-38) (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as

amended April 30, 1928; 370 O. G. 757) This application is made under the act ap proved March 3, 1883, as amended by the act of April 30, 1928, and the invention herein described may be manufactured and used by or for the 5 Government for governmentalpurposes without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

I hereby dedicate the invention herein described to the free use of the public, to take effect upon the granting of a patent to me.

My invention relates to that class of holders employing a socket having yielding Walls, and has for its primary object to provide a staif retaining device of simple, and inexpensive construction, permitting the engagement, retention and release of the staff without auxiliary mechanical manipulation.

A further object of my invention is to provide a reasonably secure retention for the staff when subjected to lateral draft yet which will permit In order to carry out the purposes of my invention, reference is to be had to the peculiar combination and arrangement of parts as shown in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, in which similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Figure I is a plan view of my staff holder.

Figure 11 is an enlarged cross section taken on line AA illustrating the method of engage- 0 ment of the staff with my stafl holder, the staff j being shown in fragmentary elevation for convenience in illustration.

Referring to the drawing, plate I, formed from a blank of steel, or other suitable metal, having spring temper qualities, is provided with a circular aperture 2 for guidance of the substantially unyielding disc-like base 3 of staff 4 into position in retainer groove 5.

Circular aperture 2 is surrounded by upstanding annular rib 6 having substantially vertical inner walls 1. Walls 1 are provided at their lower extremity with an inset retainer groove 5 and an inwardly projecting annular flange 8. The lower wall of retainer groove 5 is coincident with the upper surface of flange 8. Retainer groove 5 receives and loosely retains staff base 3. The diameter between vertical walls I is slightly less than the diameter of staff base 3.

Retainer groove 5 is slightly greater in diameter between its vertical walls than the diameter of staif base 3, and slightly wider between its horizontal walls than the thickness of staff base 3. Annular channel 9, having inner wall I0, outer wall H and resilient bridge I2 concenthe staff to be forcibly rocked out of engagement.

trio with circular aperture 2, is provided with a plurality of radially disposed slots l3. Slots l3 extend from circular aperture 2 through flange 8, groove 5, annularv rib 6, inner channel wall it, resilient bridge i2 and terminateshort of outer channel wall if. Radial slots I3 form be- 5 tween them spring-like fingers l l.

My invention may be practiced by mounting plate I on a base, by any suitable means, not shown, which will permit movement of springlike'fingers 34 during the engagement and release of staff assembly 3i. Engagement of staff assembly 3l with plate i is effected by placing staff base 3 within the confines of flared neck 6 of aperture 2, thence applying pressure downwardly on staff 4, causing the edge of staff base 3 to bear forcibly against vertical walls 7. The diameter of staff base 5 is greater than the distance between vertical walls l. Downward vertical pressure on staif 4' will cause the springlike fingers M to yield outwardly, permitting continued downward movement of staff base 3 with its ultimate engagement within retainer groove 5. Spring-like fingers i4 assume their initial position upon engagement of staff base 3 within retainer groove 5, thereby restricting movement of and effecting its retention.

Upon examination of the drawing it will be seen that related parts of staff assembly 34 and plate I are so dimensioned that release of staif base 3 from retainer groove5 may be effected by the tilting of staff assembly 34 and cansing independent springing of fingers I4, "thereby permitting staff base 3 to contact vertical walls I. The release of staff assembly 3-4 from the confines of aperture 2 is accomplished by an up- 35 wardly pull.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the details of construction and the arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention as set forth in the appended 40 claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim for Letters Patent is:

A staff holder comprising a plate having a circular aperture and adapted to support a staff 45 provided with a disc-like base, said plate including an upstanding outer flange, the inner wall thereof being concentric with the wall of the aperture, an annular rib spaced inwardly from the flange and concentric therewith, said plate 0 having radially disposed slots extending through the wall of the aperture and rib and terminating adjacent the flange to provide a plurality of dially disposed flexible portions.

GEORGE E. GAUE}. 

